CLASSIFICATION CATEGORIES OF PATIENT The various units may develop their own ways of classifying patient care according

to the acuity of their patients illness.

LEVEL I SELF-CARE OR MINIMAL CARE Patient can take a bath on his own, feed himself, feed and perform his activities o daily living. Falling under this category are patients about to be discharge, those in non emergency, those newly admitted, do not exhibit and/or instruction. Average amount of nursing care hours per patient per day is 1.5. Ratio of professional to non-professional nursing personnel is 55:45.

LEVEL II MODERATE CARE OR INTERMEDIATE CARE Patients under this level need some assistance in bathing, feeding, or ambulating for short periods of their illness must have subsided or have not yet approved. Patients may have slightly emotional needs, with vital signs ordered up to three times per shift, intravenous fluids or blood transfusion; are semi-conscious and exhibiting some psychosocial or social problems; periodic treatments, and/or observation and/or instructions. Average nursing care hours per patient per day is 3 and the ration of professional to non-professional personnel is 60:40.

LEVEL III TOTAL, COMPLETE OR INTENSIVE CARE Patients under this category are completely dependent upon the nursing personnel. They are provided complete bath, are fed, may or may not be unconscious, with marked emotional needs, with vital signs more than three times per shift, may be on continuous oxygen therapy, and with chest or abdominal tubes. They require close observation at least every 30 minutes for impending hemorrhage, with hypotension or hypertension and/or cardiac arrhythmia, the nursing care hours per patient per day is 6 with a professional to non-professional ration of 65:35.

LEVEL IV HIGHLY SPECIALIZED CRITICAL CARE Patients under this level need maximum nursing care with ration of 80 professional to 20 nonprofessionals. Patients need continuous treatment and observation; with many medications, IV piggy back; vital signs every 15-30 minutes; hourly output. There are significant changes in doctors orders and care hours per patient per day may range from 6-9 or more, and the ratio of professionals to non-professionals also range from 70:30 80:20.